Northern Beaches · Manly and the harbour end
Clontarf buyers agent
A small harbourside suburb of family houses that rarely come up. We help you buy here with evidence, not guesswork.
About the suburb
Clontarf at a glance
Clontarf is a small harbourside suburb about 13 kilometres north-east of the city, in Northern Beaches Council. It is named after the Clontarf district of Dublin, whose Irish name, Cluain Tarbh, means 'meadow of the bull'. Clontarf is just around the harbour from our Manly office, and as a buyers agent on the Northern Beaches we know its quiet streets well.
It is almost entirely houses, and nearly all homes are lived in by their owners. Couples with children are the largest household group, and the most common age group is 50 to 59.
Clontarf has its place in colonial history. In 1868 Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, was shot in the back here by Henry James O'Farrell, and came to no major harm when his braces deflected the bullet. Clontarf Beach, Sandy Bay, Castle Rock and Grotto Point are all part of the suburb, and in 1960 the Chilean tsunami washed Clontarf beach away.
Daily life here is quiet and centred on the water, and parks and reserves cover nearly a quarter of the suburb. In 2021 one of the new Manly ferries was named Clontarf after the beach, and the scenic walk from Manly to the Spit Bridge passes through. Shops, schools and most buses are in neighbouring Balgowlah and Seaforth.
The trade-offs are worth saying plainly. Clontarf sits away from the main roads, so most trips start with a drive up the hill. Many blocks fall steeply towards the water, which affects access, building costs and what you can add later, and waterfront homes are judged quite differently from the rest. And because few homes here change hands, treat the figures in the statistics box as a guide, not a price.
How we work
How we help you buy in Clontarf
In a suburb of family houses that rarely come up, the work is finding the right one before it is advertised, then judging it on evidence. On average, a search with us looks like this.
Director-led, start to finish
We are an independent Northern Beaches buyers agent, based in Manly. You deal with Sarah and Mike directly. No juniors, no hand-offs. Over 75% of the homes we buy are secured off-market.
A fixed fee, agreed upfront
Our fee is set before we start and is not a percentage of the price, so we are never better off when you pay more.
We will tell you when to walk away
We are as proud of the houses we talk clients out of as the ones we buy. If a Clontarf house does not stack up, you will hear it from us first.
Thinking about Clontarf?
Tell us what you are looking for. In half an hour we can tell you honestly what Clontarf offers, what is likely to come up, and whether a nearby suburb might suit you better.
Prefer to write? Send us your brief and we will get back to you. Not ready yet? Join our newsletter.
Nearby: Balgowlah Heights · Seaforth · Balgowlah · Northern Beaches suburbs and property market: all 42 suburbs
Questions buyers ask
Buying in Clontarf: your questions answered
Is a buyers agent the same as a real estate agent?
No. A real estate agent is paid by the seller, and their job is to get the seller the highest price. We are paid only by you, and our job is to help you buy the right Clontarf home at the right price, or to tell you plainly to walk away.
Can you tell us what a Clontarf home is worth before we bid?
Yes. For every home on your shortlist we prepare a price assessment from recent comparable sales in the same street or pocket, so you bid against evidence rather than the agent's guide. It is our advice as your buyers agent, not a formal valuation, and we will tell you plainly when a guide looks out of line.
Can you find Clontarf homes before they are advertised?
Often, yes. Over 75% of the homes we buy are secured off-market, through our relationships with selling agents across the Northern Beaches. Where good homes rarely come up, hearing about one early can make all the difference.
We are overseas or interstate. Can you buy in Clontarf for us?
Yes. We regularly buy for expat, overseas and interstate clients, sometimes sight unseen. We inspect and film each home for you, run the checks, and negotiate or bid on your behalf. If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, get advice on the foreign investment rules first; we can point you to it.
What does it cost, and how long does it take?
A $5,500 engagement fee (including GST) and a fixed success fee, both agreed in writing before we start, so there is never a percentage tied to the price you pay. You get at least 100 hours of director time, and a search takes 6 to 8 weeks on average. The detail is on our services and fees page.
Is Clontarf right for us, or should we look next door?
Sometimes the better answer is Balgowlah Heights, Seaforth or Balgowlah. In the first call we test your brief against Clontarf and its neighbours and tell you honestly where it fits best.
Who you will work with
Sarah and Mike, from first call to settlement
Our office is on North Fort Road in Manly, a few minutes from Clontarf. You will deal with the two of us directly, never a junior.
Sarah Kaye
Founder
Sarah was a top-tier selling agent before she crossed to the buyer's side. She knows how a campaign is run, what a guide is really telling you, and where an agent has room to move.
Mike Kaye
Co-founder and director
A former Accenture global partner and Australian Army officer, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mike studied surveying, town planning, valuation and land law, and leads the research behind every price we put to you.